The interest in nanoscale materials stems from the fact that new properties are acquired at this length scale and, equally important, that these properties * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Phone, 404-8940292; fax, 404-894-0294; e-mail, mostafa.el-sayed@ chemistry.gatech.edu. † Case Western Reserve UniversitysMillis 2258. ‡ Phone, 216-368-5918; fax, 216-368-3006; e-mail, burda@case.edu. § Georgia Institute of Technology. 1025 Chem. Rev. 2005, 105, 1025−1102

Chemistry and properties of nanocrystals of different shapes.

This review focuses on the synthesis, protection, functionalization, and application of magnetic nanoparticles, as well as the magnetic properties of nanostructured systems. Substantial progress in the size and shape control of magnetic nanoparticles has been made by developing methods such as co-precipitation, thermal decomposition and/or reduction, micelle synthesis, and hydrothermal synthesis. A major challenge still is protection against corrosion, and therefore suitable protection strategies will be emphasized, for example, surfactant/polymer coating, silica coating and carbon coating of magnetic nanoparticles or embedding them in a matrix/support. Properly protected magnetic nanoparticles can be used as building blocks for the fabrication of various functional systems, and their application in catalysis and biotechnology will be briefly reviewed. Finally, some future trends and perspectives in these research areas will be outlined.

Magnetic nanoparticles: Synthesis, protection, functionalization, and application

▪ Abstract Solution phase syntheses and size-selective separation methods to prepare semiconductor and metal nanocrystals, tunable in size from ∼1 to 20 nm and monodisperse to ≤5%, are presented. Preparation of monodisperse samples enables systematic characterization of the structural, electronic, and optical properties of materials as they evolve from molecular to bulk in the nanometer size range. Sample uniformity makes it possible to manipulate nanocrystals into close-packed, glassy, and ordered nanocrystal assemblies (superlattices, colloidal crystals, supercrystals). Rigorous structural characterization is critical to understanding the electronic and optical properties of both nanocrystals and their assemblies. At inter-particle separations 5–100 A, dipole-dipole interactions lead to energy transfer between neighboring nanocrystals, and electronic tunneling between proximal nanocrystals gives rise to dark and photoconductivity. At separations <5 A, exchange interactions cause otherwise insulating ass...

Synthesis and Characterization of Monodisperse Nanocrystals and Close-Packed Nanocrystal Assemblies

Core/Shell Nanoparticles: Classes, Properties, Synthesis Mechanisms, Characterization, and Applications

Recent startling interest for lanthanide luminescence is stimulated by the continuously expanding need for luminescent materials meeting the stringent requirements of telecommunication, lighting, electroluminescent devices, (bio-)analytical sensors and bio-imaging set-ups. This critical review describes the latest developments in (i) the sensitization of near-infrared luminescence, (ii) “soft” luminescent materials (liquid crystals, ionic liquids, ionogels), (iii) electroluminescent materials for organic light emitting diodes, with emphasis on white light generation, and (iv) applications in luminescent bio-sensing and bio-imaging based on time-resolved detection and multiphoton excitation (500 references).

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Lanthanide luminescence for functional materials and bio-sciences

Nanoengineering of a Magnetically Separable Hydrogenation Catalyst

Raman and infrared spectroscopy have been employed to investigate the 99.5%[xB2O3(1−x)Bi2O3]0.5%CuO glasses with different Bi/B nominal ratios (0.07⩽x⩽0.625) in order to obtain information about the competitive role of B2O3 and Bi2O3 in the formation of the glass network. The glass samples have been prepared by melting at 1100 °C and rapidly cooling at room temperature. In order to relax the structure, to improve the local order and to develop crystalline phases the glass samples were kept at 575 °C for 10 h. The influence of both Bi2O3 and CuO on the vitreous B2O3 network as well as the local order changes around bismuth and boron atoms in as prepared and heat treated samples was studied. Structural modifications occurring in heat treated samples compared to the untreated glasses have been observed.

Structural investigations of copper doped B2O3–Bi2O3 glasses with high bismuth oxide content

Raman spectroscopy has advanced considerably in the last several years due to rapid developments in instrumentation and the availability of theoretical methods for accurate calculation of Raman spectra, thus enormously facilitating the interpretation of Raman data. This review is restricted to cover papers mainly published in the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, which serve to give a fast overview of recent advances in this research field as well as to provide readers of this journal a quick introduction to the various subfields of Raman spectroscopy. It also reflects the current research interests of the Raman community. Similar reviews of highly active areas of Raman spectroscopy will appear in future issues of this journal. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Recent Advances in linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy I

Structural resonances have been found in the Raman spectra of optically levitated liquid droplets of mixtures of water and glycerol. The observed resonances could be assigned by using the well-known Lorenz-Mie formalism. It was found that for the particular droplet under investigation quite high-order numbers (l = 8,9) of the natural modes of oscillation of a sphere play a dominant role. We describe the intensities of the resonances in the Raman spectrum particularly through the volume averaged internal field intensity. We show further that the internal angle-averaged electric field intensity is localized near, but not confined to, the sphere surface.

Structural resonances observed in the Raman spectra of optically levitated liquid droplets.

Glass systems of composition 95%[xB2O3(1−x)Bi2O3]5%Fe2O3 with different Bi/B nominal ratios (0.07⩽x⩽0.90) have been investigated by means of Raman and infrared spectroscopy in order to obtain information about the competitive role of B2O3 and Bi2O3 in the formation of the glass network. The glass samples have been prepared by melting at 1100 °C and rapidly cooling at room temperature. The samples have been further kept at 575 °C for 10 h in order to relax the glasses structure as well as to improve the local order and to develop the new formed crystalline phases. The influence of both Bi2O3 and Fe2O3 on the vitreous B2O3 network as well as the local order changes around bismuth and boron atoms in as prepared and heat-treated samples have been studied. Structural modifications occurring in the heat-treated samples compared to the untreated glasses have been pointed out.

Wolfgang Kiefer

Papers

Nanoengineering of a Magnetically Separable Hydrogenation Catalyst

Structural investigations of copper doped B2O3–Bi2O3 glasses with high bismuth oxide content

Recent Advances in linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy I

Structural resonances observed in the Raman spectra of optically levitated liquid droplets.

Vibrational spectroscopy of highly iron doped B2O3–Bi2O3 glass systems